Archery Bow

ABSTRACT

An archery bow comprises a structural riser that comprises a plurality of cells defined between structural rails and connecting members. In some embodiments, a central longitudinal axis of the riser is oriented midway between the rails. In some embodiments, a first plurality of cells are aligned along the central longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, connecting member intersections are aligned upon the central longitudinal axis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.29/438,636, filed Nov. 30, 2012, the entire content of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to archery bows. Bows and the variousstructural components of bows must have the strength and resiliency toperform properly through repeated firing cycles. The weight of a givencomponent will generally increase with its strength; however, there isalso a desire for bows to be as light as possible.

There remains a need for novel structural designs in bows that allow forincreased performance and weight reduction.

All US patents and applications and all other published documentsmentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some ofthe claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additionaldetails of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additionalembodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description ofthe Invention below.

A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification isprovided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72.The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope ofthe claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, a bow comprises a riser, first and second limbs anda bowstring extending between the limbs. The riser comprises a firstrail, a second rail and a plurality of connecting members that define aplurality of cells. The riser defines a plurality of connecting memberintersections. Each connecting member intersection is aligned upon ariser central longitudinal axis, which is located midway between thefirst rail and the second rail.

In some embodiments, the riser comprises a plurality of similarly shapedcells, which are aligned upon the central longitudinal axis.

These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointedout with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a parthereof However, for a better understanding of the invention, itsadvantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference can be made tothe drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanyingdescriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described variousembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described withspecific reference being made to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an archery bow.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the bow of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of FIG. 1 in greater detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there aredescribed in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. Thisdescription is an exemplification of the principles of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodimentsillustrated.

For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in thefigures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

US 2011/0247602 teaches archery bows having various structuralreinforcing patterns. US 2011/0247602 (U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/100,128) is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an archery bow 10 comprising arepetitive structural reinforcing pattern 20. The bow 10 comprises ariser 12, a first limb 30, a second limb 32 and a bowstring 14 extendingbetween the limbs 30, 32. The bow 10 further comprises a rotatablemember 40, 50 mounted on respective axles 34, 36, with each axle 34, 36supported by a limb 30, 32. As shown, the bow 10 comprises a single camcompound bow, wherein the first rotatable member 40 is a pulley 70 andthe second rotatable member 50 comprises a cam 72. The bowstring 14wraps around the pulley 70 and further comprises a control cable portion18 that attaches to a feed-out track of the second rotatable member 50.The bow 10 includes a power cable 16 that attaches between the cam 70and the first limb 30. In some embodiments, the power cable attaches tothe first axle 34, for example using an axle connector as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/756,300 or US Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2010-0307471, the entire disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

The riser 12 experiences several different loading conditions as the bow10 is used. As the bow 10 is drawn, an archer will grasp the riser 12 inthe area of the grip 60, wherein a force F is placed on the riser 12.The force F counteracts opposing forces applied to the ends 66, 68 ofthe riser 12 by the limbs 30, 32. The limbs 30, 32 also apply momentforces to the riser 12. After an arrow is fired, the forces in the riser12 will reverse several times as the bow 10 oscillates and vibratessubsequent to the shot.

It is desirable for the riser 12 to be as light as possible while stillproviding the necessary strength to withstand the forces experiencedduring normal use. Further, the riser 12 and other components of the bow10 are desirably strong enough to withstand other forces that may beapplied to a bow 10, such as impact forces if the bow 10 is dropped.

In some embodiments, the riser 12 comprises a first rail 26 and a secondrail 28. In some embodiments, the first rail 26 extends continuouslyfrom the first end 66 to the second end 68 of the riser 12. In someembodiments, the first rail 26 is primarily a compression member,carrying a predetermined amount of compression when the bow 10 is in abrace condition and a greater amount of compression when the bow 10 isdrawn. In some embodiments, the second rail 28 extends continuously fromthe first end 66 to the second end 68 of the riser 12. In someembodiments, the second rail 28 is primarily a tension member, carryinga predetermined amount of tension when the bow 10 is in a bracecondition and a greater amount of tension when the bow 10 is drawn.

In some embodiments, the riser 12 comprises a plurality of connectingmembers 22. In some embodiments, a connecting member 22 connects at oneend to the first rail 26 and connects at another end to the second rail28. In some embodiments, a connecting member 22 is attached to anotherconnecting member 22 at a connecting member intersection 37. For thepurposes of this disclosure, a connecting member intersection 37 doesnot contact a rail 26, 28.

In some embodiments, an end of a connecting member 22 attaches to a rail26, 28 at a junction 38. In some embodiments, a plurality of connectingmembers 22 attach to a rail 26, 28 at a junction 38. For the purposes ofthis disclosure, a junction 38 is a connection between a rail 26, 28 andat least one connecting member 22.

In some embodiments, each connecting member 22 is straight along itslength and connects between a junction 38 and an intersection 37.

The riser 12 comprises a plurality of cells 52. In some embodiments, aplurality of cells 52 comprise first cells 53, which are boundedentirely by connecting members 22. In some embodiments, each first cell53 has a similar size and shape. In some embodiments, each first cell 53is bounded by four connecting members 22. In some embodiments,connecting members 22 that are located on opposite sides of a first cellare parallel to one another. In some embodiments, each first cell 53 hasa square shape. In some embodiments, two opposed corners of a first cell53 each comprise connecting member intersections 37 and two opposedcorners each comprise junctions 38.

In some embodiments, a plurality of cells 52 comprise second cells 54,which are partially bounded by connecting members 22 and partiallybounded by a rail 26, 28. In some embodiments, each second cell 54 isbounded by two connecting members 22 and a rail 26, 28. In someembodiments, each second cell 54 has a substantially triangular shape.In some embodiments, two corners of a second cell 54 each comprisejunctions 38 and one corner comprises a connecting member intersection37.

In some embodiments, the riser 12 comprises a first portion 74 and asecond portion 75, wherein each portion 74, 75 comprises a plurality offirst cells 53 and a plurality of second cells 54. In some embodiments,the first portion 74 is located above the grip 60, and the secondportion 75 is located below the grip 60. Each portion 74, 75 cancomprise any suitable number of cells 52.

In some embodiments, a riser 12 comprises at least six first cells 53.In some embodiments, a riser comprises at least nine first cells 53. Insome embodiments, a riser 12 comprises at least twelve first cells 53.In some embodiments, a riser 12 comprises at least fourteen first cells53. In some embodiments, the riser first portion 74 comprises nine firstcells 53 and the riser second portion 75 comprises five first cells 53.

FIG. 3 shows the riser of FIG. 2 in greater detail. In some embodiments,the first cells 53 are centered in the riser 12 between the first rail26 and the second rail 28.

In some embodiments, a central longitudinal axis 85 of the riser 12extends substantially midway between the first rail 26 and the secondrail 28. In some embodiments, a plurality of first cells 53 are centeredupon the central longitudinal axis 85. In some embodiments, each firstcell 53 is centered upon the central longitudinal axis 85.

In some embodiments, two opposed corners 84 of a first cell 53 arealigned on the central longitudinal axis 85, and the centrallongitudinal axis 85 passes through a center point of the first cell 53.In some embodiments, two additional opposed corners 84 of a first cell53 comprise junctions 38.

In some embodiments, a plurality of connecting member intersections 37are aligned upon the central longitudinal axis 85.

In some embodiments, a cell junction axis 87 passes through two opposedcorners 84 of a first cell 53 that comprise junctions 38, and the celljunction axis 87 is orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis 85 attheir intersection location.

In some embodiments, a first connecting member 22 a and a secondconnecting member 22 b attach to opposite sides of an intersection 37,and the first connecting member 22 a is non-parallel to the secondconnecting member 22 b.

In some embodiments, a first connecting member 22 c and a secondconnecting member 22 d each bound a common cell, such as a second cell54, and the first connecting member 22 c is oriented at anon-perpendicular angle to the second connecting member 22 d. In someembodiments, a first cell corner 84 a and a second cell corner 84 b arelocated on opposite sides of an intersection 37, the first cell corner84 a comprises an angle greater than 90 degrees, and the second cellcorner 84 b comprises an angle that is greater than 90 degrees. In someembodiments, a sum of the angles of the first cell corner 84 a and thesecond cell corner 84 b totals 180 degrees.

In some embodiments, the riser 12 comprises a laterally shifted portion65 to provide a sight window for the bow 10, for example above the grip60. The riser 12 comprises a non-shifted portion 64 oriented in theshooting plane (e.g. theoretical the plane of bowstring travel). Thelaterally shifted portion 65 is shifted lateral to the shooting plane.In some embodiments, the repeating reinforcing/cell pattern 20 continuesthrough the transition 63 between the laterally shifted portion 64 andthe non-shifted portion 64.

The structural reinforcing patterns 20 described herein can be used inany suitable type of bow. In some embodiments, a bow comprises a dualcam bow wherein both the rotatable members 40, 50 comprise cams 72, andthe bow includes two power cables. In some embodiments, the first andsecond rotatable members 40, 50 comprise mirror images of one another.

In some embodiments, a bow comprises a 1.5 cam or hybrid cam bow,wherein an independent bowstring stretch extends between the firstrotatable member 40 and the second rotatable member 50 and anindependent control cable stretch extends between the first rotatablemember 40 and the second rotatable member 50, with each of the bowstringand control cable stretches terminating on the first rotatable member40.

An archery bow 10 can comprise any suitable combination of the variousriser and rotatable member designs as disclosed herein. In someembodiments a first rotatable member 40 comprises a repeating cell shapethat is different from a repeating cell shape used in a second rotatablemember 50. Further, repeating cell shapes used in the riser 12 can bedifferent from those of the rotatable members 40, 50.

In various embodiments, a riser 12 can have any suitable configurationof connecting members 22 that form cells 63 of any suitable shape. Invarious embodiments, the cells 63 can have any suitable number of sides,with the more common embodiments comprising 3, 4 or 6 sides.

In some embodiments, the ends 89 of the riser 12 can be ignored whendescribing the connecting members 22 and cell 52 patterns. The ends 89can include accessories such as harmonic dampers, or other structuralfeatures, such as limb bolt receptacles, that impact the connectingmember configuration/orientation. In some embodiments, the grip 60 areaof the riser 12 is also ignored.

An archery bow having a riser 12 as described herein is lighter than ariser as described in US Patent Application Publication No.2011-0247602, while still providing acceptable deflection andperformance characteristics.

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive.This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one ofordinary skill in this field of art. All these alternatives andvariations are intended to be included within the scope of the claimswhere the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.” Thosefamiliar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specificembodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to beencompassed by the claims.

Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims canbe combined with each other in other manners within the scope of theinvention such that the invention should be recognized as alsospecifically directed to other embodiments having any other possiblecombination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, forpurposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows shouldbe taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from allprior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependentclaim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within thejurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should bealternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). Injurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, thefollowing dependent claims should each be also taken as alternativelywritten in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependencyfrom a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claimlisted in such dependent claim below.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternateembodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognizeother equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein whichequivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attachedhereto.

1. A bow comprising: a riser; first and second limbs; and a bowstring extending between said limbs; wherein said riser comprises a first rail, a second rail and a plurality of connecting members that define a plurality of cells, said riser having a plurality of connecting member intersections, each connecting member intersection aligned upon a riser central longitudinal axis that is located midway between the first rail and the second rail.
 2. The bow of claim 1, wherein said cells comprise a plurality of first cells, each first cell having a similar size and shape, said first cells aligned upon said central longitudinal axis.
 3. The bow of claim 2, comprising at least 12 first cells.
 4. The bow of claim 2, each first cell comprising a first pair of opposed corners that are aligned upon said central longitudinal axis.
 5. The bow of claim 4, wherein each first cell comprises a second pair of opposed corners that define a cell axis oriented orthogonal to said central longitudinal axis.
 6. The bow of claim 5, wherein said cell axis intersects a junction between at least one connecting member and a rail.
 7. The bow of claim 2, wherein said cells further comprise a plurality of second cells, each second cell shaped differently from each first cell.
 8. The bow of claim 7, wherein each second cell has fewer sides than each first cell.
 9. The bow of claim 7, wherein each second cell is bounded by one of said rails.
 10. The bow of claim 1, wherein a first connecting member and a second connecting member extend from opposite sides of an intersection, the first connecting member being nonparallel to the second connecting member. 